FINAL EXAM RELIGION

Holywings Case: Freedom of Expression, Religious Tolerance,

and the Role of Blasphemy Laws in Indonesia

By: Muhammad Yusuf (001202200028)

FACULTY OF COMPUTING
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STUDY PROGRAM
CIKARANG
2023
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background
On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Holywings which is a Food, Beverage, and
Entertainment business company. Uploading 2 promotional posters on Instagram
@holywingsindonesia and @holywingsbar which states that those named Muhammad
and Maria can get one free bottle of alcohol every Thursday provided they bring an
identity card.

The alcohol promotion utilizes the issue of ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup
(SARA). In Islam, Muhammad is the name of the last prophet who has a noble position
and is respected by all Muslims in the world. The name Mary itself is the name of a holy
figure in Christianity and Catholicism.

B. Different Perspektif
1. Employees of Holywings
According to the General Manager of Holywings Project Company, Yuli
Setiawan, the promotional content was created by the staff or creative team,
without any prior coordination with management. In fact, he said the staff who are
now suspects are new employees, who joined for approximately 3-4 months.

2. Law Enforcement
According to the police, the suspects are charged with Article 156 and
Article 156A of the Criminal Code, which are blasphemy articles, and Article 28
paragraph 2 of the ITE Law regarding the prohibition of hate speech related to
ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup (SARA). They also received a sentence of
10 years in prison.

3. Christian
From the various sources I searched on the internet, there are almost no
articles that discuss the Christians' outrage about the blasphemy case committed
by holywings.

From some of the sources I read, this can happen because of the
teachings of Christians to love their enemies, and they also think that if it is only a
matter of name, there is no need for much debate.

4. Islam
In contrast to Christians, Muslims are up in arms and condemn the
promotional actions taken by Holywings for desecrating a holy figure in Islam.
 As said by the Chairman of PBNU for Religious Affairs KH Ahmad Fahrur
Rozi (Gus Fahrur), "We deeply regret the promotion of alcoholic beverages using
the name Muhammad. That is the name of the great Prophet who is highly
respected by Muslims throughout the world who prohibit their adherents from
drinking alcoholic beverages."

A more detailed explanation was given by Ustaz Felix, "We can see from
the diction and promotion, at least we know that this is not an accident as stated
by the management in their apology. But this is a structured promotion, because
in this diction and promotion they really want to take controversy, so they
juxtapose one thing against another in order to produce a viral thing. For
example, liquor is juxtaposed with religious figures, of course in Islam the
Prophet Muhammad, in Christianity Mary,"

CHAPTER II
PERSONAL OPINION
A. Problem
In my personal opinion, what Holywings promotions are doing cannot be justified.
Because they deliberately do promotions that offend certain religions with the intention of
going viral and being talked about on social media.

The promotion carried out by Holywings is wrong because it has juxtaposed a

figure who is important to certain religions with drinks that are prohibited by religion.

This issue is not an intolerant issue, but a promotional issue that brings sensitive
issues to go viral and be widely talked about on social media.

From here it is clear that they are indirectly committing blasphemy against
religion. Because they deliberately do promotions that contain a religion and are
juxtaposed with things that are prohibited by religion.

B. Solution
This is a hopeless act in promotion, they want something instant by deliberately
creating controversy on social media which even leads to criminal charges.

If you want to do a viral promotion, it's better to create works that can impress
people. Not creating controversy by bringing up religious issues.
 CHAPTER III
SOURCE
https://uici.ac.id/belajar-dari-kasus-holywings-peran-strategis-marketing-public-relations/

https://narasi.tv/read/narasi-daily/kasus-holywings-bikin-promo-minuman-beralkohol-untuk-muh
ammad-dan-maria-polisi-tetapkan-enam-tersangka

https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20220625103535-12-813419/6-fakta-kasus-holywings-s
oal-promo-alkohol-untuk-muhammad-maria

https://www.nu.or.id/nasional/kecam-promosi-bernada-sara-holywings-ketua-pbnu-melukai-pera
saan-umat-JnwE7

https://kliklegal.com/lesson-learned-dari-holywings-mulai-dari-promosi-muhammad-dan-maria-p
enutupan-gerai-hingga-gugatan-100-miliar/#:~:text=Dia%20melaporkan%20Holywings%20kare
na%20dinilai,ayat%20(2)%20UU%20ITE.

https://www.kompas.tv/nasional/302709/ini-3-pasal-yang-jerat-pegawai-holywings-dalam-kasus-
promosi-miras-untuk-muhammad-dan-maria

https://news.republika.co.id/berita/rdzlv2377/karyawan-holywings-ditetapkan-sebagai-tersangka
-kasus-penistaan-agama#:~:text=Holywings%20Kembali%20Dilaporkan%20ke%20Polisi%20Te
rkait%20Promosi%20Miras&text=Akibat%20perbuatannya%2C%20para%20tersangka%20yang
,penjara%20selama%20maksimal%2010%20tahun.

https://www.suaramerdeka.com/nasional/pr-043742396/ini-alasan-holywings-pakai-nama-muha
mmad-dan-maria-untuk-promosi-dijerat-pasal-penistaan-agama